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As Wisconsin's Ben Brust learned in the Big Ten title game last Sunday, trying to beat the defense of Ohio State's Aaron Craft (left) and Shannon Scott is a daunting task.
(Photo by Charles Rex Arbogast, Associated Press)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Aaron Craft and Shannon Scott don't play on the same team in Ohio State's practices that often. The Buckeyes would rather pit the 6-2 junior and the 6-1 sophomore against each other.

"I think coach wants us to attack each other," Craft said. "Obviously, he's a great defender, and I do well sometimes."

But during Ohio State's eight-game winning streak -- the last five games of the regular season and the three games on the way to the Big Ten Tournament title that shoved the Buckeyes up to a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament -- the biggest change has been that pairing.

Craft and Scott are sharing the court a lot more. Together, they're attacking other teams.

When a reporter mentioned Tuesday in the midst of a question that Craft is considered the best defender in college basketball, Matta interrupted to say he is the best defender in college basketball. Even President Barack Obama mentioned Craft on ESPN when picking the Buckeyes to reach the Final Four, to which Craft jokingly replied, "He's got good taste, what can I say?"

Lately, Matta has been mentioning Scott in the same breath as Craft, which is about all you need to know.

"I give Shannon a lot of credit for being perceptive enough to understand, 'What do I have to do to help this team?'" Matta said. "He has really embraced that. You see the look in his eye that he really wants to be a good defender, and that helps our team."

Scott finds his role

Sophomore Shannon Scott has seen a major increase in playing time during Ohio State’s eight-game winning streak. The Buckeyes have benefited with what he does on the defensive end. Here are Scott’s numbers for the last eight games, all wins, compared to the previous eight, when Ohio State went 5-3. 

Last eight: 23.9 mins., 4.9 points, 2.8 steals, 4.0 assists 

Previous eight: 16.3 mins., 2.6 points, 1.0 steals, 2.1 assists 

— Doug Lesmerises

It might have done more than just help the Buckeyes. It may have changed their season.

Ohio State will open the NCAA Tournament against No. 15 seed Iona on Friday night in Dayton, facing the third-highest scoring team in the country. The Gaels average 80.7 points per game, and are led by guards 6-0 Lamont Jones (23 ppg) and 6-4 Sean Armand (16.6) ppg, who score 49 percent of the Gaels' points and take 47 percent of their shots.

While OSU starters Lenzelle Smith and Sam Thompson are capable defenders, it may be the double point-guard option that is best equipped to handle them. Ohio State is used to that lineup now.

In the past eight games -- compared to the previous eight games -- Scott's minutes have increased from 16.3 to 23.9 per game, his steals from 1 per game to 2.7 and his assists from 2.1 to 4. Matta said the increased time, and production, was as an evolution.

"About this time last year, we started running them together, and I've always wanted to play those two guys out there," Matta said. "I think we're much better than we were last year at this time, with Shannon's assist-to-turnover ratio coupled with Aaron and the pace he can play at, I think it's very advantageous for our team."

The Buckeyes have to watch out for teams with a big two-guard who could post up one of the Buckeyes' points, with Craft often taking the off-the-ball assignment when Scott comes in.

"Sometimes you get run off a lot more screens, and sometimes you have to be a big help defender," Craft said.

But he can often handle it. And from practice, he knows how Scott can get after guys.

"He's very pesky. He does a really good job of not quitting on plays," Craft said. "So even if you get by him, you can't forget about him, because he's going to make a play."

On the offensive end, where ball-handling is at a premium in tournament play, when unfamiliar defenses can force a turnover that ends a season, having two point guards on the court isn't a bad idea. Craft's offensive game has improved, and he's better at getting into the lane, but Scott still has problems finishing around the rim. But they can both help get other guys going.

"I really like the two-guard rotation, where you have two point guards on the floor at the same time," said former OSU point guard Mike Conley Jr., who in 2007 played on an OSU team that played two natural point guards together all year, with Conley and Jamar Butler. "At certain spots in the game, you get two playmakers, and both those guys are unselfish as it is."

From playing summer pickup games in Columbus, Conley knows what Craft can bring on the defensive end.

"I kicked his butt for a year or two, but now I don't know if I can kick his butt any more," Conley said with a laugh. "His defense is unreal."

Craft can say the same about Scott, at times. During the NCAA Tournament, if the trend continues, opponents may be saying it about both of the Ohio State point guards.

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